Page 34 of The Last Syphon

But maybe—maybe—it could be more than that.

A memory appeared in her mind—no, was shoved into her mind. Forcibly.

The memory of one of her final words with Venerable Cias.

“Are there books on all magical abilities?”

“Yes. All except Syphons. Those are all locked away in the Head Venerable’s chambers, located in the librarium.”

Just like that, the memory disappeared.

If she stayed, Inara could finally learn more about herself and this power that lived inside her.

Felix groaned. “I know that look.” He breathed out, resigned. “You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you? You’re going to stay.”

She flashed him a warm smile. “And you’re going to stay with me, right?”

He punched her lightly on the shoulder. “If I don’t, you’ll probably get yourself killed.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Command your Guardian to change form, and we will go inside.”

Inara blinked awkwardly. “What’s that now?”

“Your Guardian.” The Crowned Prince pointed to Fraener as if she didn’t know who he was referring to. “Have him change shape.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” And she felt like an idiot because of it. Change shape? Guardians can change shape? Into fucking what?

He exhaled deeply. That one sound held a multitude of emotions, she was sure of it, one of which she had a feeling was exasperation.

Magic charged the air. Her skin buzzed, what felt like a current of electricity sizzling all around her. Tydus stretched his long, reptilian neck, and then, what happened next shocked Inara to her core.

Tydus shrank. He fucking shrank. The giant dragon who was once the size of the very palaces standing tall behind her changed, shrinking down inch by inch until it was no larger than a bird, just barely big enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand.

Oh. My. Fates.

Tydus circled lazily in the air a few times before flying over to the Crowned Prince and perching himself right on his shoulder.

Inara stared, stunned. Her mouth hung open, and she felt no inclination to close it.

What…How…I don’t even…

She had so many questions, she didn’t even know where to start. What was the purpose of it? Could all Guardians do it, or was it simply restricted to Arelia’s Guardian? Something only dragons could do? Why didn’t anyone know about it? Inara was sure that if the people of the Borderlands, or even travelling merchants who flitted from kingdom to kingdom during trading season knew, it would be the talk of each visit. After all, who wouldn’t want to talk about the fact that a giant beast the size of a continent could change form into something a thousand times smaller?

Inara finally managed to close her fucking mouth. “I wouldn’t even begin to know how to ask him to do that,” she said honestly, her eyes still locked on the miniature version of Tydus. She couldn’t help but lean closer to stare.

It was truly remarkable. Everything about the creature was exactly the same. The colour of his scales. The shape of his body. The intelligence in his eyes. Exactly the same—just a smaller version.

She was beyond fascinated.

Because he was so small, the terrifying aura it had once exuded disappeared, replaced with a kind of cuteness that had any rationality flying right out of Inara’s damn brain.

She tried to pat him.

Nothing at all about Tydus had changed apart from his size, so Inara had no idea why she assumed his temperament had. He was still a deadly, ice-breathing dragon—a point he made very clear to her by blowing out shards of miniature ice from his mouth and slicing her finger open.

Inara hissed and yanked her hand back.